(1) Whoever takes and drives away any motor vehicle without having either the consent of the owner thereof or other lawful authority shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to three months or with fine 1[of five thousand rupees], or with both.
Provided that no person shall be convicted under this section if the Court is satisfied that such person acted in the reasonable belief that he had lawful authority or in the reasonable belief that the owner would in the circumstances of the case have given his consent if he had been asked therefor.
(2) Whoever, unlawfully by force or threat of force or by any other form of intimidation, seizes or exercises control of a motor vehicle, shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to three months, or with fine 1[of five thousand rupees], or with both.
(3) Whoever attempts to commit any of the acts referred to in sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) in relation to any motor vehicle, or abets the commission of any such act, shall also be deemed to have committed an offence under sub-section (1) or, as the case may be, sub-section (2).
Provided that no person shall be convicted under this section if the Court is satisfied that such person acted in the reasonable belief that he had lawful authority or in the reasonable belief that the owner would in the circumstances of the case have given his consent if he had been asked therefor.
(2) Whoever, unlawfully by force or threat of force or by any other form of intimidation, seizes or exercises control of a motor vehicle, shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to three months, or with fine 1[of five thousand rupees], or with both.
(3) Whoever attempts to commit any of the acts referred to in sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) in relation to any motor vehicle, or abets the commission of any such act, shall also be deemed to have committed an offence under sub-section (1) or, as the case may be, sub-section (2).
Source footnotes
1. Subs. by s. 82, ibid., for "which may extend to five hundred rupees” (w.e.f. 1-9-2019).2. Subs. by s. 83, ibid., for “with fine which may extend to one hundred rupees” (w.e.f 1-9-2019).
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More sections of this act
Section 1 · Short title, extent and commencement.Section 2 · Definitions.Section 2A · e-cart and e-rickshaw.Section 2B · Promotion of innovationSection 3 · Necessity for driving licence.Section 4 · Age limit in connection with driving of motor vehicles.Section 5 · Responsibility of owners of motor vehicles for contravention of sections 3 and 4.Section 6 · Restrictions on the holding of driving licences.India Code, Government of India. Text fetched 10 Oct 2026. Source metadata reports last modification: 2025-11-07. Check the linked official text and subsequent notifications when applying a provision.